title: Characteristics of an outpatient treatment sample by primary substance of abuse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, as a function of primary substance of abuse, among clients approached, screened, and assessed for eligibility in a 10-site effectiveness trial of a Web-based psychosocial intervention for substance use disorders. Consistent with the design of effectiveness trials, eligibility criteria were broad and exclusion criteria minimal; thus, the recruited sample may be viewed as relatively representative of patients seeking treatment throughout the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  χ tests for categorical variables and F tests for continuous variables were used to analyze demographic, substance use, physical and mental health, and sexual risk data collected at screening and baseline; pairwise comparisons between primary substance subgroups for baseline data were conducted if the test statistic P value was 0.01 or less.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Few participants expressed disinterest in the study at screening because of the computer-assisted intervention. A diverse sample of substance users completed baseline and were enrolled: 22.9% marijuana; 21.7% opiates; 20.9% alcohol; 20.5% cocaine; and 13.9% stimulants users. Marijuana users demonstrated the greatest differences across primary substances: they were younger, less likely to be married or attend 12-step meetings, and more likely to be in treatment as a result of criminal justice involvement. All patients, even marijuana users, reported comparable rates of co-occurring mental health disorders and sexual risk and substantial rates of polysubstance use disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary substance of abuse may be a less important indicator of overall severity compared with co-occurring disorders and other factors common across treatment seekers, further demonstrating the need for integrated treatment services and care and comprehensive pretreatment assessment.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Psychiatry (ANCC, EVN), New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health (ANCC), St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (EAM), Medical University of South Carolina, Clinical Neuroscience Division, Charleston; Department of Psychiatry (MCH), Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY; New York State Psychiatric Institute (ET), New York; Northshore-Long Island Jewish Health System (BG), Glen Oaks, NY; and HARBEL Prevention and Recovery Center (PQS), Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Aimee N C
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Edward V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Erin A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: Mei-Chen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Turrigiano
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Patricia Q
authors.initials: PQ
authors.lastname: Stabile
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000145:classification*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs